Power loader



Sept.- 17, 1957 R. L. BEYERSIEDT ETIAL POWER LOADER Filed Sept. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l IINVENTOR. RALPH 1.. BEYERSTEDT ERNEST R. CUNNINGHAM JR. ab) 0 P ATTORNEY R. L. BEYERSTEDT ET AL Sept. 17, 1957 A POWER LOADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1954 m m M a T N 5% R MR O E T Mam M 19 0 L v H Unite Patented Sept. 17, 1957 ice rowan LoAnna Ralph L. Beyers tedt and Ernest R. Cunningham, Jn, .Libertyvslle, 111., assignors to The Frank G. Hough Co., a corporation of lilinois Application September 15, 1954, Satin! No. 456,154

18 Claims. (Cl. 214-51t1) This invention relates generally to front end power loaders, and more specifically to novel bucket arrangements for front end power loader.

As is well known in the art, front end power loaders generally comprise a prime mover such as a rubber-tired or crawler tractor, a bucket disposed forwardly of the prime mover, and boom and linkage means operatively interconnecting the bucket and the prime mover. Various means have been provided under control of the operator of the loader for operating the boom and linkage means to in turn control the various necessary operations of the bucket such as digging, carrying, dumping, bulldozing, spreading and backfilling of any material commonly worked by such a loader.

Power loaders as now generally known in the art are not capable of performing all of the noted functions with the desired or with substantially equal efficiency. Among the most troublesome functions, which have resulted in decreased overall efiiciency of power loaders, have been the functions of digging, dumping, bulldozing and backfilling. The digging function is often poorly performed when hard-packed materials must be worked, since excessive clutch slippage or tire wear then results. The dumping function is often poorly performed since when sticky materials are worked there is a tendency of the material to adhere to the inner walls of the bucket when the bucket is operated to a dump position. Further, the dumping height and reach is often considerably reduced when the bucket is pivoted about its lower rear portion to a dump position, as is common in the art. The functions of bulldozing and backfilling are often poorly performed since the buckets generally known in the art cannot be adjusted to present an ideal bulldozing blade surface tothe material to be worked, and since those buckets cannot be efficiently controlled to permit accurate backfilling about excavations. Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide bucket arrangements for a front end power loader which will eificiently perform all of the noted functions including those with which difficulty has been experienced in the art.

A feature of the present invention is the novel construction of a bucket having an ejector mechanism.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a side plan view of a power loader constructed according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bucket and a portion of the boom and linkage means shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side plan View of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the bucket operated to a different position from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the boom and linkage means raised to a high lift position and with the bucket operated to the position shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a side plan view of a portion of the invention shown in Figure 4 with the bucket operated to the position shown in Figure 1.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

For a detailed description of the present invention reference is made to the drawings. The loader comprises a vehicle 10 of any type well known in the art. Although the vehicle 111 shown in the drawings is a rubber-tired vehicle, a crawler type tractor may also be used.

A boom 11, formed in duplicate portions positioned on each side of the vehicle 10, is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the vehicle 10 by means of mounting means 12. The other end of the boom 11 is disposed forwardly of the vehicle 10 and is formed to have a substantially vertical downwardly extending portion. The downwardly extending portion of the boom 11 is concave looking toward the front of the vehicle 10, as can easily be seen in Figure 4. A hydraulic ram 13 is provided for raising and lowering of the boom 11. The head end of the hydraulic ram 13 is pivotally mounted to the vehicle 19 through a bracket 14 and pivotal mounting means 15. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 13 is pivotally mounted to the boom 11 intermediate the ends thereof by a bracket 16 and pivotal mounting means 17. The hydraulic ram 13, the brackets 14 and 16, and the pivotal mounting means 15 and 17 are formed in duplicate portions disposed on each side of the vehicle 10, with the bracket 14 rigidly mounted to the vehicle 10 and the bracket 16 securely mounted to the boom 11.

The linkage means of the present embodiment comprises a link 18 formed in duplicate portions disposed on each side of the vehicle 10. One end of the link 18 is pivotally mounted to the vehicle 10 by means of mounting means 19. The pivotal mounting means 19 is posi tioned substantially vertically above the pivotal mounting means 12. The other end of the link 18 is positioned to extend forwardly of the vehicleltl.

The bucket of the present invention, which is some what more complicated than a simple bucket suchas those well known in the art, comprises a generally U-shaped element having side walls 20 and a bottom wall 21. The side walls have the conventional bucket configurations well known in the art, as can be seen in the drawings. The bottom wall 21 is formed of two spaced apart elements having a concave configuration, when viewed from above, along an axis longitudinally of the vehicle 10. Pivotal mounting means 22 are disposed at the upper corners of the sidewalls 20. The radius of curvature of the upper element of the bottom wall 21 is such that the point of origin thereof coincides with mounting means 22. A cutting edge 23 is mounted to the forward edge of the bottom wall 21. The bucket further comprises a generally L-shaped element 24 with one leg thereof designated with the numeral 25 and the other leg thereof designated with the numeral 26. The leg 25 is of a width substantially equal to the distance between the side walls 20 and is formed to have a concave configuration, looking toward the frontof the vehicle 10, along a vertical axis. The leg 26 of the L-shaped element 24 is formed to have a width substantially equal to the distance between the side walls 20 with the corners thereof removed to prevent any interference with the boom 11. The L-shaped element 24 is pivotally mounted within the U-shaped element ofthe bucket by means of mounting means 22. The L-shapedelement 24 is provided with two pairs of flanges 27. The two pairs of flanges 27 are securely mounted to the convex side of the leg 25 and the underside of the leg 26 of the L-shaped element 24 in a spaced apart relationship to each other which can easily be seen in Figure 2. These flanges 27 serve to reinforce the L-shaped element 24. The other end of each portion of the link 18 is pivotally mounted between one pair of the flanges 27 by means of mounting means 28. The lower convex edge of the leg 25 is provided with a pair of flanges 29 which are mounted in a spaced apart relationship which can easily be seen in Figure 2. Each portion of the boom 11 is pivotally mounted to one of the flanges 29 by means of pivotal mounting means 30. The curve of the depending portion of the boom 11 is substantially equal to the curvature of the leg 25 of the L-shaped element 24. It can thus be seen that the L-shaped element 24 is pivotally supported by the link 18 and the boom 11 and, further, that the relative lengths of the link 18 and the boom 11, and the relative positions of the pivotal mounting means 12, 19, 30 and 28 determine the position of the leg 25 of the L-shaped element 24. It may be seen that this geometry as shown in the drawings results in maintaining the leg 25 of the L-shaped element 24 in a substantially vertical plane as the boom 11 is raised and lowered by operation of the hydraulic ram 13. Means other than the pivotal mounting means 22 also operatively interconnects the L-shaped element 24 and the U-shaped element comprising the side walls 2% and the bottom wall 21. This means is a double acting hydraulic ram 31. A pair of spaced apart depending flanges 32 are mounted to the underside and the end of the leg 26 of the L-shaped element 24. The head end of the double acting hydraulic ram 31 is pivotally mounted between flanges 32 by means of pivotal mounting means 33. A pair of spaced apart upstanding flanges 34 are mounted to the upper rear edge of the bottom wall 21. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 31 is pivotally mounted between the flanges 34 by means of mounting means 35. Hydraulic fluid conduits, controls and pump means (not shown) of any type well known in the art may be provided for operation of the hydraulic rams 31 and 13. As the hydraulic ram 31 is caused to extend, the U-shaped element is caused to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, about pivotal mounting means 22 and as the hydraulic ram 31 is caused to retract, the U-shaped element is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, about pivotal mounting means 22.

Turning next to a detailed description of the operation of the instant invention, reference is again made to the drawings. For purposes of this description, the U-shaped element comprising the side walls 20 and the bottom wall 21 will be called the scoop and the L-shaped element 24 will be called the ejector blade. The entire structure suspended by the boom 11 and the link 18 may be called the bucket. The subject loader may be operated to dig a great variety of diiferent materials in a number of diiierent manners. Firstly, the ram 31 can be retracted and the boom 11 positioned as shown in Figure 1. The vehicle is then moved to bring the ejector blade against the material to be dug. The hydraulic ram 31 is then extended to cause the scoop to be forced into the material until the scoop reaches the position shown in Figure 3. The boom 11 may then be raised any desired amount to permit carrying of the loaded bucket. The loader may also be used to dig by initially operating the hydraulic ram 31 to cause the scoop to assume the position shown in Figure 3. The vehicle 10 is then moved into the material to be loaded and the boom 11 is raised to fill the bucket and to permit carrying of the loaded bucket. Further, any combination of these described methods of digging may be used for materials too diflicult to dig by the described methods. For example, should the material contain large objects such as gravel having large rocks therein, the loader may be moved with the bucket positioned as shown in Figure 1 against the gravel, and the hydraulic ram 31 may then be alternately extended and retracted to loosen and work the gravel, to permit any large rocks to be gradually worked into the bucket. By moving the loader as shown in Figure 1 against a hard-packed material, by then braking the wheels of the loader, and by then expanding the hydraulic ram 31, the scoop may be power crowded into the material to fill the bucket, thereby eliminating any excessive wear of the tires of the vehicle or clutch slippage.

The bucket may be carried in any position between that shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 by any desired degree of the extension of the hydraulic ram 13.

To dump the bucket from a position such as shown, for example, in Figure 4, it is merely necessary to retract the ram 31 to the position shown in Figure 5. It can easily be seen that since the scoop is swept clean by the ejector blade, sticky materials may be eifectively and efliciently dumped from the bucket. It can also easily be seen that as the scoop is pivoted from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 by retraction of the ram 31, there is no appreciable reduction in the dumping height of the bucket. Thus the bucket may be dumped into a bin or truck wherein the height of the bin or truck is substantially equal to the distance from the ground to the bottom wall 21 of the scoop.

The subject loader may be efiiciently used as a bulldozer by positioning the boom 11 and the bucket as shown in Figure 1. The ejector blade and the forward marginal edges of the scoop will then present a conventional bulldozer blade to the material to be bulldozed.

The loader may be efficiently used for spreading of any material by gradually dumping the material as the vehicle it is moved. Spreading of the material may also be accomplished by positioning the bucket and the boom 11 of the loader, substantially as shown in Figure l, and by then extending the ram 31 to present any selected portion of the bottom 21 of the scoop to the material to be spread.

The subject loader may be efiiciently used to backfill an excavation by moving the vehicle lit with the bucket 11 loaded and positioned as shown in Figure 3 to the edge of an excavation. As the hydraulic ram 31 is then retracted from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1, the material will be dumped from the bucket into the excavation to accurately backfill the excavation.

It should be noted that it is apparent from the above descriptions of the operation of the loader, that the loader may be operated to accurately and efliciently dig or dump at any height between that shown in Figure 1 and Figure 4.

Having described the invention, what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, an ejector blade, means pivotally mounting said ejector blade within said scoop element, the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said ejector blade on said upper surface of said bottom wall when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, and a double acting hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between the bottom wall of said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade.

2. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, the forward edges of said bottom wall being provided with a cutting edge, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, whereby one of said legs of said ejector blade depends within said scoop to the upper surface of said bottom wall, the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop'element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade on said upper surface of said bottom wall when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said bottom wall and the other leg of said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade.

3. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, the forward edges of said bottom wall being provided with a cutting edge, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, whereby one of said legs of said ejector blade depends within said scoop to the upper surface of said bottom wall, said one of said legs of said ejector blade being curved along a vertical axis, a pair of reinforcing flanges secured to the other of said legs and the convex side of said one of said legs of said ejector blade, the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade on said upper surface of said bottom wall when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said bottom Wall and the other leg of said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade.

4. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, the forward edge of said bottom wall being provided with a cutting edge, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, one leg of said ejector blade being curved, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop element having curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade on the upper surface of said bottom wall when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between the upper rear marginal edge of said bottom wall and the outer marginal edge of the other leg of said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade.

5. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of spaced apart side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, one leg of said ejector blade being curved, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, said legs of said ejector blade having a Width substantially equal to the distance between said side walls of said scoop element, the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade on said upper surface of said bottom wall when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, a double acting hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between the other leg of said ejector blade and the upper rear marginal edge of said bottom Wall for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade.

6. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element, an

ejector blade-pivotally mounted within said scoop element, the other ends of said link and said boom pivotally mounted to said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

7. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element, an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop element, the other ends of said link and said boom pivotally mounted in a vertically spaced apart relationship to said ejector blade, and a double acting hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

8. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, an ejector blade, means pivotally mounting said ejector blade within said scoop element, means pivotally mounting the other ends of said link and said boom in a vertically spaced apart relationship to said ejector blade, the bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the outer marginal edge of said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

9. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side Walls interconnected by a bottom wall, the forward edges of said bottom wall being provided with a cutting edge, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, whereby one of said legs of said ejector blade depends within said scoop, means pivotally mounting the other ends of said link and said boom to said one of said legs of said ejector blade, the bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said bottom wall and the other leg of said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said one leg of said ejector blade.

10. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, the forward edges of said bottom wall being provided with a cutting edge, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, whereby one of said legs of said ejector blade depends within said scoop, said one of said legs of said ejector blade being curved along a vertical axis, a pair of reinforcing flanges secured in a spaced apart relationship to the other of said legs and the convex side of said one of said legs of said ejector blade, the bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade, means pivotally mounting the other end of said boom substantially at the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade, means pivotally mounting the other end of said link to said pair of reinforcing flanges, and means pivotally mounted between said bottom wall and said other leg of said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop relative to said one leg of said ejector blade.

11. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally gmountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a scoop element having a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, the forward edges of said bottom wall being provided with a cutting edge, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, one leg of said ejector blade being curved along a vertical axis, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, means pivotally mounting the other ends of said link and said boom in a vertically spaced apart relationship to the rear of said one leg of said ejector blade, the bottom wall of said scoop element having a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between the upper rear marginaledge of said bottom Wall and the outer marginal edge of the other leg of said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

12. In a loader having a vehicle, a boom pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a scoop element having apair of spaced apart side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, a substantially L-shaped ejector blade, one leg of said ejector blade being curved along a vertical axis, means for pivotally mounting said ejector blade at the intersection of the legs thereof within said scoop element at the upper marginal edges of the side walls thereof, means for pivotally mounting the other ends of said link and said boom in a vertically spaced apart relationship to the rear of said one leg of said ejector blade, said legs of said ejector blade having a width substantially equal to the distance between said side walls of said scoop element, the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop elementhaving a curvature substantially equal to that traced by the lower marginal edge of said one leg of said ejector blade on the upper surface of said bottom wall of said scoop element when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, at double acting hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between the other leg of said ejector blade and the upper rear marginal edge of said bottom wall for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade.

13. A loader comprising a vehicle, a boom pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said vehicle, means pivotallymounted between said vehicle and said boom for raising and lowering said boom, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped element, an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop element, the other ends of said link and said boom pivotally mounted to said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

14. A loader comprising a vehicle, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped element, an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop element, a boom, means pivotally mounting said boom at one end thereof on said vehicle and at the other end thereof to said ejector blade, a link, means pivotally mounting one end of said link on said vehicle substantially vertically above said boom mounting means and at the other end thereof to said ejector blade substantially vertically above the boom mounting means thereof, and means pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

15. A loader comprising a vehicle, a boom pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said vehicle, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said vehicle in a vertically spaced apart relationship to said boom mounting, a hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between said vehicle and said boom for raising and lowering said boom, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element, an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop ele ment, the other ends of said link and said boom pivotally mounted in a vertically spaced apart relationship to said ejector blade, and a double acting hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

16. In a loader having a vehicle, boom means pivotally mountable at one end thereof on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element of a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop element, the upper surface of said bottom wall curved so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said eject-or blade, the other end of said boom means mounted to said ejector blade and means pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

17. In a loader having a vehicle, boom means pivotally mountable on said vehicle, link means pivotally mountable on said vehicle, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped element, an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop element, said link means and said boom means pivotally mounted to said ejector blade, and means pivotally mounted between said sooop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

18. In a loader havinga vehicle, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shap'ed scoop element of a pair of side walls interconnected by a bottom wall, and an ejector blade pivotally mounted within said scoop element, the upper surface of said bottom wall curved so that substantially the entire upper surface of said bottom wall is swept by said ejector blade when said scoop element is pivoted relative to said ejector blade, bucket carrying means mounted to .said ejector blade and mountable on said vehicle for raising and lowering said ejector blade while maintaining said ejector blade substantially vertical, and means pivotally mounted between said scoop element and said ejector blade for pivoting said scoop element relative to said ejector blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,517,582 Lull Aug. 8, 1950 2,671,570 Richey Mar. 9, 1954 2,720,990 Beyerstedt et a1. Oct. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,389 Netherlands June 15, 1949 627,203 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1949 

